Author: Staff Writer
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) today announced the appointment of Adv. Nkhetheleni Norman Gidi as its Acting CEO. ICASA said the appointment of Adv Gidi is effective from 01 September 2022 to 30 November 2022, or until a permanent appointment has been made. The appointment of Adv Gidi follows the announcement of the end of term of office for the outgoing CEO, MWillington Ngwepe. Ngwepe’s last day at ICASA will be on 31 August 2022, following his resignation. The regulator said Adv. Gidi brings a wealth of ICASA-specific knowledge and experience to the acting role, having been…
Google has launched Google Wallet in South Africa. From now on, South Africans can look forward to a safer, simpler and more helpful experience when transacting, said Google in a statement. This includes being enabled to save and access payment cards, loyalty cards and boarding passes, with support for additional items being added over time. “Access to technology is vital for economic prosperity as millions of people use their mobile devices daily to tap and pay at stores, pay for public transportation and to utilise a variety of passes. At Google, we have learned that great things happen when technology…
JSE listed REIT, Octodec Investments Limited, today announced that it has commenced upgrading its Shoprite building in the heart of the Tshwane CBD, at a cost of just below R60 million. The facelift is a welcome boost to the existing, bustling retail trade in the CBD, and proves renewed confidence in a node which has clearly emerged stronger post the Covid-19 pandemic. Jeffrey Wapnick, MD of Octodec, says: “With many retailers having returned to the CBD and various in-person university classes resuming, Octodec’s CBD retail assets are experiencing a renewed energy. We are thrilled to announce the news of this…
Yesterday, Eskom and the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to formalise the collaboration to develop renewable energy artisan skills in South Africa, to support the implementation of the Eskom Just Energy Transition (JET) Strategy. Eskom has developed a comprehensive JET Strategy which places equal importance on the ‘transition to lower carbon technologies,’ and the ability to do so in a manner that is ‘just’. In support of this strategy, Eskom has a pipeline of clean energy projects at various stages of development and recognises that there is a dire lack of skills…
MTN Group today announced that Marvin Ncube has been appointed Executive: Business Finance, effective 1 September 2022. Ncube is a seasoned finance executive with more than 19 years’ experience in strategic business planning, business performance, capex management, statutory reporting and revenue assurance, said MTN. In his role, Ncube will lead three core finance sub-functions which impact and influence financial business performance for the Group. These are Group Financial Planning and Analysis, Regional and Manco Finance Business Partnering and Group Capital Management. “Given his vast experience, expertise and accomplishments, I am confident that (Ncube) will add immense value to these portfolios…
The Shoprite Group has finalised sustainability-linked loans totalling R3.5 billion for investments to expand its key environmental programmes as part of its wider sustainability strategy. These include a R2 billion loan from Standard Bank (the bank’s biggest in the retail sector to date), and a R800 million sustainability-linked loan and a R700 million green loan (a first in the retail sector) from RMB for investment in environmental projects. A further sustainability-linked loan is in the pipeline. The loans will be used to expand the Group’s investment in: Renewable energy and the increase of energy from renewable sources as a percentage of total electricity consumption; Recycling cardboard and plastic; Sustainable packaging, including reusable,…
More cardless ATMs with greater functionality are now available to more people thanks to the ongoing partnership between leading fintech enablement partner, Ukheshe, and leading global payments provider, Paycorp. The partnership sees ATM Solutions, a division of Paycorp, which owns and operates over 4000 Cash Express branded ATMs, add rich embedded functionality to its fleet of ATMs enabling customers to make cardless cash withdrawals. Says Clayton Hayward, CEO of Ukheshe: “Cardless withdrawals allow customers to access cash conveniently from their mobile wallet without using a card. Initiated securely in a mobile wallet such as MTN Momo or OzowMe, a transaction…
The Reach Group, a specialist provider of communications infrastructure management solutions to landlords, property managers and telecoms providers throughout South Africa, has acquired 100% of Jasco Property Solutions. This acquisition will enable the Reach Group to broaden their services offering platform and deliver more value to customers through the new consolidated Reach Property Solutions business. The Reach Group are experts in both the real estate and telecommunications management industries and have a proven track record in property leasing and professional infrastructure lease management services. The augmented offering enabled by the acquisition now allows Reach Property Solutions to compressively offer a…
Opera, the company behind the eponymous web browser, together with MTN, is providing South Africans with 3GB each of free data per month within Opera browsers to enable internet access for everyone. In July 2022 alone, Opera and MTN delivered in total 17.7 petabyte of free data to 5.9 million users. The need to communicate and access the internet is fast becoming a basic human right in South Africa, according to the non-profit group Media Monitoring Africa. Data access is now considered nearly equal to utilities like water and electricity – an intrinsic and essential commodity that every home needs.…
Applications for the Vodacom bursary programme aimed at first, second, and third-year university students in South Africa, who are pursuing further education within STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, are now open. Each year, the Vodacom Foundation’s bursary programme offers deserving students an opportunity to further their studies. The students are selected based on merit and their neediness for financial assistance. More specifically, the Vodacom bursary 2023 will cover the following fields of study: Information Technology Information Systems Computer Engineering Computer Science Electronics Engineering Mathematical Sciences Data Analytics/Sciences The bursary covers the cost of full-time education and will pay…